Adhesive label dispenser



` Filed Feb. 21, 1945 W. H. BRADY, JR., ET AL ADHESIVE LABEL DISPENSER .H F. fr fr fr fr L.. fr fr fr `Faun. 13, 1948.

Patented Jan. 13, 1948 ADHESIVE LABEL DISPENSER William H. Brady, Jr.,Mi1waukee, Wis., and Frederick W. Brady, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 21, 1945, Serial No. 5179,066

5 claims. (c1. 20e- 56) This invention relates to a combination of pressure sensitive adhesive labels with a dispenser mounting therefor and it resides more specifically in a side by side series of pliant adhesive backed labels in separable pressure sensitive adhesive contact with a dispenser mounting composed of a thin concreted layer of backing material having a predisposition to complete severance by cracking upon subjection to creasing along a line intersecting said series of labels close to one margin thereof, whereby a completely cracked off or severed portion of said backing layer underlying a minor portion of each label may be formed and peeled away from said labels to expose an overhanging marginal tab which may be grasped for the purpose of removing the remaining part of the label from the backing.

Heretofore pressure sensitive adhesive labels of small size have been furnished to-the user as parts of a continuous roll like a'roll of surgical adhesive tape. In this form each label must be cut from the roll'and this is a tedious and annoying task when large numbers of labels are to be handled. To overcome this disadvantage, separately cut individual labels have also heretofore been attached in side by side series to board backing strips having a smooth facing which will not part from the backing and impair the adhesive coating of the label. `Although such a dispenser is far more convenient to use than a continuous roll it is often difficult to remove the labels from the dispenser board. An operator using such a dispenser must keep available a sharp pointed tool for lifting an edge of the label so that it maybe grasped andremoved and this operation usually requires the employment of both hands. Since labels of this sort are very commonly used for marking the ends of complex assembled wire cables requiring much manipulation on the part of the operator assembling the same, it is desirable that the labels be furnished in a form in which the markings on them are clearly displayed and in a form in which manipulation is reduced to a minimum.

By the use of this invention all of the advantages of clear display which the card type dispenser possesses are retained but at the same time a positive and easily manipulated method of removal of the labels is provided which does notl require the use of any implement and which may be performed with one hand if necessary.

This invention is herein described by reference to the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and in which there is set forth by 2 tain forms in which the dispenser of this invention may be embodied.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view partly broken away of one form of a dispenser of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view in elevation and in section of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1 viewed through the plane 3-3 there indicated;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view in end elevation and in section of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1 undergoing the first step of the creasing operation by which the backing is severed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed View in end elevation and in section showing the second step of the creasing operation by which the backing is severed; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a fragment of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1 showing the manner in which the severed backing portion is removed'to expose tabs which can be grasped to remove the labels.

Referring now'to the drawing, a dispenser is there shown made up of a backing board I to which a plurality of separate pressure 'sensitive adhesive labels 2 is attached. The margins of the board I preferably extend beyond the marginsof vthe labels 2 thus permitting dispensers to be stacked or packaged without danger of the `aclhesive material coming in contact with anything which'might adhere thereto.' At the' same time the markings borne by the labels 2 are prominently displayed so that an operator can instantly select the particular dispenser or label desired. The backing board I is formed for purposes to be more fully described hereinafter 0f a resilient but somewhat brittle concreted substance of substantial' thickness such as, for example, sheet vulcanized ber, phenol-aldehyderesin bonded ber pulp', homogeneous pyroxylin or otheriplastic of similar physical properties or any similar Ymaterial which is self-sustaining're- F silient but brittle when subjected to severe creasing. The backing board I' furthermore must be composed of a thoroughly concreted substance such as those named so `that surface bers and laminations will not separate therefrom and adhere to the adhesive coating of the labels 2 when they are stripped therefrom.

By the term concreted, as used herein, there is meant a condition or state within the backing material which limits freedom of relative moveway of illustration and not of limitation cer- 55 ment between 'adjacent Vconstituent components.

For example, in the case of cemented felted fibrous pulps such as vulcanized fiber or resin bonded pulp, a cementitious binder unites the component fibers into a more or less continuous integral mass. By reason of this when the material is subjected to creasing by extreme bending, the tensile strength of bers crossing the crease is exceeded and a complete rupture of the same occurs. In the case of a concreted homogeneous material, such as pyroxylin or other plastic of like physical properties, the exceeding of the tensile strength of the substance itself results in a complete rupture. portant aspect of the discovery of this invention that materials exhibiting concreted .properties as thus defined also exhibit the property It is an irri-I '4 possible to construct a dispenser in accordance with this invention having the necessary predisposition to cracking disposed to extend so as to traverse the series of labels by having the grain run at right angles to the intended crease and inherent Severability will exist at the location desired. It is preferred, however, that such predispositionbe created otherwise than by orientation of the grain of the material, for example, by scoring as shown or by other forms of indentation or Aby perforation and the like, since by so doing the cracking off operation can be performed with of being capable of separation from thelabel adhesive without giving off and leaving attached to such adhesive any fragments or small particles which would mask theadhesive and thus impair it. 'Y l A As appears more clearly in Fig. 2 the labels 2 are provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive coating 3 which is in adhesive'contact with the backing board I thus serving to maintain the labels 2 in their intended display position on the back of the board I. Before'applying the labels 2 to the` board I the board I is preferably scored with a scratch or 1 indentation 4 extending throughout and underlyingthe labels 2 close to one end thereof as appears more clearly in Fig. 3. 'TheV score 4 extends only partly through the thickness ofthe backing board-l thus leaving the assembled dispenser substantially intact in a form which facilitates handling and distribution.` The score 4 may be formed if desired on the back of the board I in a position directly opposite that which is shown and by so doing an article of substantially equivalent quality Will result although slightly superior results are obtained'when the score is as shown in the drawing.

When it is desired to remove a label from the backing board I this-may be accomplished by first bending the board I away from the face upon which the -labels are lmounted in such-a way as to forma crease `along the scored line 4- and when this is done a cracking or severance of the board I- along the line 4 is initiated as diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 4 thus starting the formation of a severed strip 5. Duringthis operation alhinging operation ytakes place along a line which is on the back surface of the board I thus necessitating shifting of the label 2 with respect to the severed strip 5 by an amount approximating the double thickness of the board I. The severed strip 5 is then flexed in the opposite direction to form a new crease following the severed juncture and when this is done a small portion of the label 2 forms a bead designated by the numeral 6 whichisentirely and completely exposed and which insures positive separation of the strip 5 from the main backing I.

In the case of concreted substances such as vulcanized fiber and resin bonded felted liber the usualmethods of manufacture thereof result ina material having a pronounced orientation 'effi-l bers in one direction. By reason of this, creasing of the material in a direction traversing thegrain evenwithout previous scoring produces a clean and complete severance, while creasing with .the grain, that is to say, with a major part of the fibers parallel to or sloping across the crease, does notV produce a` reliableY severance because shred-l ding.;and` lamination. occurs withV consequent masking of the label adhesive. It is, therefore,

vgreater ease and certainty. Furthermore, when the, predisposition to cracking is created by scoringfaridthelike, orientation of the grain of the material to cross the labels may be directed to develop; 'other desired properties as, for example,

4has been exaggerated by reason of the limitations off pen and ink drafting methods, it will be understood that the materials shown in actual use are no thicker than they need be to perform their intended function. In thev case of vulcanized fibergifor example, materials for the backing I would usually be from 0.004 to 0.020 inch in thickness with preference being given to material falling. inthe middle of this range. As a general rule, the denser the backing material, the thinner it-may be. .,.fLWhen complete severance of the strip 5 from the backing I hasibeen accomplished Vby the creasing action/.above described the operator may .then peel the strip 5 from the labels 2 in the mannerindicated in Fig. 6. In doing so the labels 2 remain adherent to the main backing I, with an exposed overhanging tab which may be easily grasped by the operator for the purpose of removingthe'same fr-om the backing I. For` example, Oneof the labels is shown in position of partial removal from the backing I the same being designated by the numeralr2'. The operator, if he chooses; may peel the'stripv5 to expose any number: of the labels 21 which he 'desires or he may expose the entire content ofthe backing I if a large number ofxlabelszar'e'to be used-immediately. i At ztimesit maybe convenienti'to score the backing IV las;shown'at 1. so that the cracked off portion -5 rinay be conveniently broken away at intervalsA so..that the labels can berendered accessibleafew at a time without exposing all of therest.; 1 f i We claim: l f 'I y1. ';In adispen'sably mounted series of pressure sensitive adhesive labels the combination comprising a backing board composed of thin stiff card-.likesheet `concreted material crackable on creasing, a series of y separate adjacent pliant labels disposed on one face ofsaid board, a pressure sensitive/.adhesive .permanently vbonded to saidilabels and in separable adhesive contact with said board. and a score mark only in vthat face of..saidv.board to` which said labels areattched extending soV as tounderlie ,each of said labels andlladapted to respond by complete severance 0f said board upon subjectioni of the same'to tight creasing alongsaid score marks.

2.In Va dispensably mounted pressure sensitive adhesive label the combination comprising 'a backing-board* composed-v of i thin stiff card-like sheet -concreted lmaterial crackable on bending only when creased, a pliant label disposed on one face of said board, a pressure sensitive adhesive permanently bonded to said label and in separable adhesive contact with said board, and a line of indentation in said backing board partially penetrating the same and dening in pre-determined position beneath said label a line of cleavage easily crackable upon creasing along said line of indentation the extent of said partial penetration of said line of indentation being limited so as not to impair the unitary card-like properties of said backing board whereby said backing board provides a stii substantially nat support for said label and a substantially unbroken protective cover for the adhesive of said label until said backing board is parted for use.

3. In a dispensably mounted series of pressure sensitive adhesive labels the combination comprising a backing board composed of thin stii card-like sheet concreted material crackable on bending only when creased, a series of separate adjacent pliant labels disposed on one face of said board, a pressure sensitive adhesive permanently bonded to said labels and in separable adhesive contact with said board, a line of indentation in a part of said backing board covered by said labels partially penetrating said board suiciently to weaken the same so as to provide in pre-determined position beneath said labels a line of cleavage easily crackable upon creasing along said line of indentation the extent o-f said partial penetration of said line of indentation being limited so as not to impair the unitary card-like properties of said backing board whereby said backing board provides a still substantially fiat support for said labels and a substantially unbroken protective cover for the adhesive of said labels until said backing board is parted for use, and a plurality of lateral severance lines spaced on said board and extending from said line of indentation to an edge of said board adapted to permit complete severance of portions of said board so as to permit exposure of part of said labels without exposure of the remainder.

4.v In a dispensably mounted pressure sensitive adhesive label the combination comprising a backing board composed of thin stiff card-like vulcanized ber sheet material easily crackable on bending only when creased, a pliant label disposed on one face of said board, a pressure sensitive adhesive permanently bonded to said label and in separable adhesive contact with said board, and a line of indentation in said backing' board underlying said label partially penetrating said board suliciently to weaken the same so as to provide in predetermined position beneath said label a line of cleavage easily crackable upon creasing along said line of indentation the extent of said partial penetration of said line of indentation being limited so as not to impair the unitary card-like properties of said backing board whereby said backing board provides a stii substantially flat support for said label and a substantially unbroken protective cover for the adhesive of said label until said backing board is parted for use.

5. In a dispensably mounted pressure sensitive adhesive label the combination comprising a backing sheet of light card-board, a label sheet coated with a permanently tacky adhesive and adhered to one face of the backing sheet with one edge of the label sheet in inwardly spaced parallel relation to one edge of the backing sheet, said label sheet having a plurality of spaced pare. allel slits extending normal tosaid edge of the label sheet and dividing the label sheet into individual labels, said backing sheet having a linev of partial penetration extending entirely across the backing sheet to form a weakened line, said weakened line being beneath the label sheet and extending across the same in inwardly spaced parallel relation to said edge of the label sheet, and the extent of said partial penetration of said board being limited so that the backing sheet provides a at support for the label and a protective covering for the adhesive of said labels until said backing sheet is parted for use.

WILLIAM H. BRADY, JR.

FREDERICK W. BRADY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,303,346 Flood Dec. 1, 1942 2,373,092 Avery Apr. 10, 1945 

